Wireless intraluminal device and system

ABSTRACT

A wireless intraluminal device and an associated system for treating and diagnosing patients are provided. In one embodiment, the wireless intraluminal device includes a flexible elongate member including a proximal portion and a distal portion; a sensor assembly coupled to the distal portion of the flexible elongate member; a cable coupled to the sensor assembly and extending along the flexible elongate member; and a wireless transceiver positioned within the flexible elongate member, wherein the wireless transceiver is in communication with the sensor assembly via the cable. A wireless communication component wirelessly transmits a sensor measurement collected by the sensor assembly to a sensor measurement processing system via a wireless link for physiological data generation at the sensor measurement processing system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/348,919, filed on 10 May 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,583,193, which isthe U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 ofInternational Application No. PCT/IB2017/056997, filed on 9 Nov. 2017,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/421882, filed 14 Nov. 2016. These applications are herebyincorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to intraluminal functionalassessment and, in particular, to providing wireless communicationbetween a function measurement (FM) intraluminal device and a sensingmeasurement processing system for display and control.

BACKGROUND

Assessing the functional significances of cardiovascular and peripheralvascular diseases by intraluminal pressure and/or flow measurements canbe beneficial to guide treatments of atherosclerotic diseases.Intraluminal devices with functional measurement (FM) capabilities havebeen developed to perform various types of measurements. For example, anintraluminal device may include a pressure sensor and/or a flow sensorat the tip of the intraluminal device. The intraluminal device may beinserted into a vessel of a patient body and the pressure sensor and/orthe flow sensor may measure pressure and/or flow within the vessel. Inparticular, indices have been developed for coronary arteries to guidecardiologists in the decision of treating lesions. Examples ofpressure-based indices may include fractional flow reserve (FFR) andinstantaneous wave free ratio (iFR). An example of flow-based indicesmay include coronary flow reserve (CFR). An example of a combination ofpressure-based and flow-based indices may include hyperemic stenosisresistance (HSR). These pressure-based and/or flow-based indices canprovide better guidance to treatment decisions compared to angiographicassessment alone.

The operations of an intraluminal device may require several wireconnections, for example, for receiving power and for communication witha console for display and control. For example, the sensors may receivepower via the wire connections for performing sensing measurements andthe measurements may be output to the console via the wire connections.

Intraluminal procedures may be performed in catheter labs andoffice-based labs (OBLs). The use of intraluminal devices in catheterlabs and OBLs increases the number of cables in the catheter labs andOBLs and may clutter the workspace of the catheter labs and the OBLs. Inaddition, sterilization is important when operating in a catheter lab oran OBL. The connecting and/or disconnecting of an unsterile console orprocessing system to a sterile intraluminal device may be an issue inthe catheter labs and the OBLs.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a wireless intraluminaldevice. The wireless intraluminal device includes a flexible elongatemember, sensor assembly mounted at a distal portion of the flexibleelongate member, and a wireless transceiver configured in variousconfigurations within the flexible elongate member.

In one embodiment, a wireless intraluminal device includes a flexibleelongate member including a proximal portion and a distal portion; asensor assembly coupled to the distal portion of the flexible elongatemember; a cable coupled to the sensor assembly and extending along theflexible elongate member; and a wireless transceiver positioned withinthe flexible elongate member, wherein the wireless transceiver is incommunication with the sensor assembly via the cable.

In some embodiments, the wireless intraluminal device further includesan antenna communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver. In someembodiments, the wireless transceiver is positioned within the proximalportion of the flexible elongate member, and wherein the antenna extendsfrom the wireless transceiver and along an outer surface of the proximalportion of the flexible elongate member. In some embodiments, thewireless transceiver is positioned within a central portion of flexibleelongate member between the proximal portion and the distal portion, andwherein the antenna extends along an outer surface of the proximalportion of the flexible elongate member. In some embodiments, thewireless transceiver is positioned within a central portion of flexibleelongate member between the proximal portion and the distal portion, andwherein the antenna extends within the proximal portion of the flexibleelongate member. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver ispositioned within the distal portion of the flexible elongate member,and wherein the antenna extends along an outer surface of the proximalportion of the flexible elongate member. In some embodiments, thewireless transceiver is positioned within the distal portion of theflexible elongate member, and wherein the antenna extends along withinthe proximal portion of the flexible elongate member. In someembodiments, the wireless intraluminal device further includes anelectrical interface coupled to the proximal portion of the flexibleelongate member; and a connector coupled to the proximal portion of theflexible elongate member, wherein the connector includes a power sourcecoupled to the electrical interface, and wherein the power source powersthe sensor assembly and the wireless transceiver. In some embodiments,the connector is detachable from the flexible elongate member. In someembodiments, the electrical interface includes a first electricalcontact coupled to a positive terminal of the power source; and a secondelectrical contact coupled to a negative terminal of the power source.In some embodiments, the electrical interface includes a thirdelectrical contact coupled to the antenna. In some embodiments, thewireless intraluminal device further includes a connector coupled to theproximal portion of the flexible elongate member; and an antennamechanically coupled to the connector. In some embodiments, the sensorassembly includes at least one of a pressure sensor or a flow sensor.

In one embodiment, a wireless intraluminal system for treating a patientincludes an intraluminal device including a flexible elongate memberhaving a proximal portion and a distal portion; a sensor assemblycoupled to the distal portion of the flexible elongate member; a cablecoupled to the sensor assembly and extending along the flexible elongatemember; and a first wireless communication component positioned withinthe flexible elongate member, wherein the first wireless communicationcomponent is in communication with the sensor assembly via the cable; asecond wireless communication component in communication with the firstwireless communication component of the intraluminal device via awireless link; and a sensor measurement processing component incommunication with the second wireless communication component, whereinthe first wireless communication component wirelessly transmit, to thesecond wireless communication component via the wireless link, a sensormeasurement collected by the sensor assembly for physiological datageneration at the sensor measurement processing component.

In some embodiments, the wireless intraluminal system further includes adisplay component in communication with the sensor measurementprocessing component, wherein the sensor measurement processingcomponent generates physiological data based on the sensor measurement,and wherein the display component displays the physiological data. Insome embodiments, the second wireless communication component wirelesslytransmits, to the first wireless communication component via thewireless link, an instruction to control the sensor assembly for thephysiological data generation.

Additional aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosurewill become apparent from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless functional intraluminalsystem, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a wireless intraluminaldevice architecture, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an intraluminal device, according toaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of an intraluminal device,according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a wirelessintraluminal device, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a wirelessintraluminal device, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a wirelessintraluminal device, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a wirelessintraluminal device, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thepresent disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It is nevertheless understood that no limitation tothe scope of the disclosure is intended. Any alterations and furthermodifications to the described devices, systems, and methods, and anyfurther application of the principles of the present disclosure arefully contemplated and included within the present disclosure as wouldnormally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosurerelates. In particular, it is fully contemplated that the features,components, and/or steps described with respect to one embodiment may becombined with the features, components, and/or steps described withrespect to other embodiments of the present disclosure. For the sake ofbrevity, however, the numerous iterations of these combinations will notbe described separately.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of providing a wirelessintraluminal device. The intraluminal device includes sensor assembly, aflexible elongate member, a wireless communication component, and adetachable battery pack. The flexible elongate member includes aproximal portion and a distal portion. The sensor assembly is coupled tothe distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The intraluminaldevice includes a cable coupled to the sensor assembly and extendingalong a length of the flexible elongate member. The detachable batterypack is coupled to a proximal portion of the flexible elongate member.The wireless communication component can wirelessly receive instructionsfor controlling the sensor assembly. The wireless communicationcomponent can wirelessly transmit sensor measurements collected by thesensor assembly for analysis, interpretation, and physiological datageneration at a processing system. The wireless communication componentincludes a wireless transceiver and an antenna, which may be positionedat various locations within the intraluminal device. Although thedisclosed embodiments are described in the context of pressure and/orflow sensing, the disclosed embodiments are suitable for use in anyother medical sensing and/or treatment applications.

The disclosed embodiments may provide several benefits over wiredintraluminal devices. For example, the use of wireless intraluminaldevices reduces the number of cables required in a catheter lab, andthus reduces cluttering of catheter lab workspaces. In a wiredintraluminal system, galvanic isolation is important and is typicallyimplemented in a patient isolation module (PIM) connecting to anintraluminal device. The wireless solution provides automatic galvanicisolation and eliminates the need for a PIM.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless intraluminal system 100,according to aspects of the present disclosure. The system 100 mayinclude a wireless intraluminal device 102, a wireless communicationcomponent 130, a sensor measurement processing system 132, such as aconsole and/or a computer, and a monitor 134. The intraluminal device102 may include a flexible elongate member 158, which may be a catheter,a guide wire, or a guide catheter, coupled to a wireless communicationcomponent 104.

The flexible elongate member 158 includes a distal portion 108, aproximal portion 106, and a housing 112 positioned adjacent to thedistal portion 108. The housing 112 may be positioned at a distance(e.g., about 3 centimeters (cm)) from a distal tip of the intraluminaldevice 102. The housing 112 may include a sensor assembly (shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 ), which may include one or more sensors, transducers,and/or other monitoring elements configured to obtain diagnosticinformation about a vessel 120.

The intraluminal device 102 may further include a cable (a cable 117shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 ) coupled to the sensor assembly in the housing112 to provide communication between the sensor assembly and thewireless communication component 104, as described in greater detailherein. Although the wireless communication component 104 is shown to becoupled to the proximal portion 106 of the flexible elongate member 158,the wireless communication component 104 may be configured in variousconfigurations within the intraluminal device 102, as described ingreater detail herein.

At a high level, the sensor assembly measures physiologicalcharacteristics, which may be pressure and/or flow, of fluid in thevessel 120 and the communication cable transfers the sensor measurementsto the wireless communication component 104. The wireless communicationcomponent 104 wirelessly transmits sensor output signals carrying thesensor measurements, for example, in a radio frequency (RF) band, asshown by the RF signals 150. Upon receiving the sensor output signals,the wireless communication component 130 transfers the sensor outputsignals to the sensor measurement processing system 132. The sensormeasurement processing system 132 interprets and analyzes the sensormeasurements and produces physiological data, graphs, readings and/ordiagnostic information for display on the monitor 134. The sensorassembly in the housing 112, the wireless communication component 104,and associated components for signal controls and transfers aredescribed in greater detail herein.

The sensor measurement processing system 132 can include a processor anda memory. The sensor measurement processing system 132 can be operableto facilitate the features of the system 100 described herein. Forexample, the processor can execute computer readable instructions storedon the non-transitory tangible computer readable medium.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication components 104 and 130may include substantially similar functional components, but may havedifferent physical form factors and arrangements. The wirelesscommunication components 104 and 130 may operate at a data rate in arange of a few kilobits per second (kbps). Some examples of wirelesscommunication protocols suitable for transferring functionalmeasurements may include Bluetooth, Zigbee, and ultra-wideband (UWB).

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the wireless intraluminaldevice 102 architecture, according to aspects of the present disclosure.FIG. 2 provides a more detail view of the internal components of theintraluminal device 102. As shown, the intraluminal device 102 includesone or more sensors 210, a power source 240, and the wirelesscommunication component 104. The sensors 210 may include pressure and/orflow sensors and associated electronics (e.g., a low noise amplifier(LNA)). The sensors 210 may be part of the sensor assembly housed in thehousing 112. The power source 240 may be a battery pack, supercapacitors, or any suitable electrical energy storage that powers thesensors 210 and the wireless communication component 104. The sensors210, the wireless communication component 104, and the power source maybe coupled via a cable 117. For example, the wireless communicationcomponent 104 may communicate with the sensors 210 via the cable 117.The communication may be bidirectional including transfer of controlsignals for operating the intraluminal device 102 and sensormeasurements collected by the sensors 210. In addition, the wirelesscommunication component 104 and the sensors 210 may receive power fromthe power source 240 via the cable 117.

The wireless communication component 104 includes a transceiver (Tx/Rx)252 and an antenna 254. The transceiver 252 may include hardware and/orsoftware configured to perform data framing, data encoding/decoding,scrambling/descrambling, modulation/demodulation, and/or errorencoding/decoding, for example, according to a pre-determined wirelesscommunication protocol, such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, or UWB. In someembodiments, the transceiver 252 may include analog-to-digitalconverters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs). The antenna254 may be constructed from a metal thin film or a metal thin wire. Theantenna 254 may have any suitable dimension and may vary depending onthe wireless technology in use and the specific design. In someembodiments, the antenna 254 may have a length between about 30millimeters (mm) to about 60 mm. The transceiver 252 and the antenna 254may be arranged in various configurations within the intraluminal device102, as described in greater detail herein.

Although not shown, the intraluminal device 102 may include othercomponents and/or circuitries, such as voltage signal converters, ADCs,DACs, line drivers, amplifiers, encoder/decoder logics, for facilitatingthe operations of the intraluminal device 102.

In operation, the intraluminal device 102 is inserted into a vessel,such as the vessel 120, of a patient and the sensors 210 may be in fluidcommunication with environments of the vessel. The sensors 210 maydirectly measure pressure and/or velocity of the fluid in the vessel. Inone embodiment, the wireless communication component 104 may receivesensor control signals from the wireless communication component 130.The wireless communication component 104 may transfer the sensor controlsignals to the sensors 210. The sensor control signals may activate ordeactivate the sensors 210. Once the sensors 210 are activated, thesensors 210 may continuously report pressure measurements at a presentoperating frequency. In another embodiment, the sensors 210 may beactivated once the sensors 210 once the power source 240 is activated toprovide power to the sensors 210. The sensor output signals carrying themeasurements are typically relatively weak (e.g., low power levels).Thus, the transceiver 252 may include additional circuitry forconditioning the sensor output signals prior to transmission to thesensor measurement processing system 132. Signal conditioning mayinclude analog and/or digital processing. Signal conditioning mayinclude filtering and/or amplification.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the intraluminal device 102, accordingto aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of aportion of the intraluminal device 102, according to aspects of thepresent disclosure. The intraluminal device 102 includes an internalsensor mount 110, the external housing 112, sensor assembly 116, aproximal flexible member 114, a distal flexible member 118, and aproximal electrical interface 122.

The proximal electrical interface 122 is configured to electricallyconnect the sensor assembly 116, the wireless communication component104, and the power source 240 in order to communicate signals to thesensor measurement processing system 132. In accordance with this, theelectrical interface 122 is in electrical communication with the sensorassembly 116. The electrical interface 122 may include a series ofconductive contacts on its outer surface that engage and communicatewith corresponding contacts on a connector, as described in greaterdetail herein.

The sensor assembly 116 may include one or more sensors 210. The sensorassembly 116 is arranged and configured to measure a physiologicalcharacteristic of a patient. When used on the intraluminal device 102,the sensor assembly 116 is arranged and configured to measure aphysiological characteristic of a vessel itself, such as a vascularvessel. In one embodiment, the sensor assembly may include a pressuremonitoring element configured to monitor a pressure within a lumen ofthe vessel 120. The pressure monitoring element can take the form of apiezo-resistive pressure sensor, a piezo-electric pressure sensor, acapacitive pressure sensor, an electromagnetic pressure sensor, anoptical pressure sensor, and/or combinations thereof. In some instances,one or more features of the pressure monitoring element are implementedas a solid-state component manufactured using semiconductor and/or othersuitable manufacturing techniques.

In another embodiment, the sensor assembly may include a flow monitoringelement configured to monitor a flow within a lumen of the vessel 120.The flow monitoring element may be a flow velocity sensor or a flowvolume sensor. In another embodiment, the sensor assembly may include atemperature sensor configured to monitor the temperature within a lumenof the vessel 120.

In yet other embodiments, the sensor assembly 116 includes a pluralityof sensors arranged to detect one or more characteristics of the patientand provide feedback or information relating to the detectedphysiological characteristic(s). The sensor assembly 116 may bedisposed, for example, less than about 5 cm from a distal-most end 174of the intraluminal device 102. In one embodiment, the sensor assembly116 is disposed about 3 cm from the distal-most end 174 of theintraluminal device 102.

The intraluminal device 102 includes a cable 117 extending from thesensor assembly 116 to the proximal electrical interface 122. The cable117 may include conductors, which may be electrical cables or wiresconfigured to carry signals and/or power between the sensor assembly 116and the proximal electrical interface 122. In some embodiments, theconductors are integrated with a core wire 119, which can extend along alength of the intraluminal device 102 with the core wire 119. In someembodiments, three conductors are provided; however, the number ofconductors in any particular embodiment may depend in part on the typeor number of sensors disposed within the intraluminal device 102. Forexample, the number of conductors can be in the range of about one totwenty conductors, one to ten conductors, one to five conductors, one tofour conductors, one to three conductors, etc.

The external housing 112 is positioned between the proximal flexiblemember 114 and the distal flexible member 118, and is configured tocover and protect the sensor assembly 116. In an embodiment, the sensorassembly 116 may be mounted within the internal sensor mount 110, whichmay be a short tube or a hypotube, using epoxy.

The proximal flexible member 114 extends proximally from the internalsensor mount 110 towards the proximal electrical interface 122. Theproximal flexible member 114 may be a polymer tube, a coil-embeddedpolymer tube, or a coil. The distal flexible member 118 may be similarto the proximal flexible member 114 and may include a radiopaque coil.The intraluminal device 102 further includes a distal-most end 174. Thedistal-most end 174 may be rounded end that can smoothly slide againsttissue as the intraluminal device 102 is fed through the vasculature ofa patient.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate several configurations for placing or positioningthe power source 240 and the wireless communication component 104 withinthe wireless intraluminal device 102. The power source 240 can bepositioned in a connector 260 coupled to the proximal end of theintraluminal device 102. In an embodiment, the power source 240 may havean electrical storage capacity between about 5 milliampere hours (mAhr)and about 200 mAhr. In some embodiments, the power source 240 mayinclude super capacitors with capacitances greater than 5 Farad (F).Dimensions of the power source 240 may vary depending on the capacityand structure of the connector 260 in which the power source 240resides.

Since the maneuverability of the intraluminal device 102 is important,the connector 260 may be configured to be detachable. For example, aphysician may maneuver the intraluminal device 102 (e.g., the flexibleelongate member 158) into a location of interest within a patient bodywith the connector 260 detached. The physician may connect the connector260 after the intraluminal device 102 is at the location of interest.For example, the electrical interface 122 of the intraluminal device 102may be in electrical contacts with the power source 240 for transportingpower when the intraluminal device 102 performs sensing measurements. Inaddition to allowing a physician to maneuver the intraluminal device 102without the weight of the power source 240 and the connector 260, thedetachable connector 260 allow for reuse of the connector 260 sinceintraluminal devices are typically single-use devices. The detachableconnector 260 may be sterilized after each use.

The antenna 254 and the transceiver 252 of the wireless communicationcomponent 104 may be positioned in various locations within theintraluminal device 102 and/or the connector 260. In an embodiment, theantenna 254 and the transceiver 252 may be positioned within theconnector 260. In such an embodiment, the transfer of sensor control andoutput signals between the sensor assembly 116 and the wirelesscommunication component 104 crosses the electrical interface 122. Theelectrical interface 122 can introduce noise and degrades the signalintegrity since the attaching and detaching of the connector 260 mayintroduce dirt (e.g., blood and saline fluid) to the electricalinterface 122. Sensor output signals are typically low-power signals,and thus may be sensitive to noise. As such, at least the transceiver252 may be placed within the flexible elongate member 158 to avoidtransferring sensor output signals across the electrical interface 122.In some embodiments, the flexible elongate member 158 may have adiameter between about 0.010″ and about 0.050″, with some particularembodiments having a diameter of about 0.014″, about 0.018″, or about0.035″. The transceiver 252 may be an integrated chip (IC) with a formfactor that fits into the flexible elongate member 158.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration 500 of thewireless intraluminal device 102, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. In the configuration 500, the sensor assembly 116 includingthe sensors 210 is positioned at the distal portion 108 of the flexibleelongate member 158 near the distal end. The power source 240 ispositioned within the detachable connector 260. The electrical interface122 is configured to couple the cable 117 to the power source 240. Theelectrical interface 122 includes electrical contacts 124 and 126. Forexample, the electrical contacts 124 and 126 are coupled to a positiveterminal (e.g., at a source voltage level) and a negative terminal(e.g., ground voltage level) of the power source 240, respectively, viaelectrical contacts of the connector 260. In the configuration 500, thetransceiver 252 is positioned within the proximal portion 106 of theflexible elongate member 158 and adjacent and distal to the electricalinterface 122. For example, the transceiver 252 may be positioned at adistance of about 1 cm to about 30 cm from the proximal-most end of theintraluminal device 102. In some particular embodiments, the transceiver252 may be positioned at a distance of about 1 cm to about 3 cm from theproximal-most end of the intraluminal device 102. The transceiver 252may be electrically coupled to the cable 117.

The antenna 254 extends from the wireless transceiver 252 and along anouter surface of the flexible elongate member 158. For example, theantenna 254 may extend along the outer surface such that a surface or aportion of the antenna 254 is exposed to ambient. Alternatively, theantenna 254 may be positioned close to the exterior surface of theflexible elongate member 158, but sealed by a coating or polymer layersuch that the antenna 254 is not exposed to the ambient. The antenna 254may extend towards the distal end and/or the proximal end. The antenna254 may be configured in a flat position or coiled around the flexibleelongate member 158. The transceiver 252 and the sensor assembly 116 mayreceive power from the power source 240 via the cable 117. As can beseen, the transceiver 252 may communicate with the sensor assembly 116without crossing the electrical interface 122. Thus, the configuration500 can provide robust transmission of sensitive, low-power sensoroutput signals.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration 600 of thewireless intraluminal device 102, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. Similar to the configuration 500, the sensor assembly 116 ispositioned near the distal end of the flexible elongate member 158 andthe transceiver 252 is positioned within the flexible elongate member158 and adjacent and distal to the electrical interface 122. However,the antenna 254 is positioned within the connector 260 instead of withinthe flexible elongate member 158 or on the surface of the flexibleelongate member 158. To couple the antenna 254 to the transceiver 252 inthe flexible elongate member 158, the electrical interface 122 furtherincludes an electrical contact 128 coupled to the antenna 254 and thetransceiver 252. Thus, the antenna 254 may communicate with thetransceiver 252 via the cable 117. Although the communication betweenthe antenna 254 and the transceiver 252 crosses the electrical interface122, the transceiver 252 can receive weak sensor output signals from thesensor assembly 116 without crossing the electrical interface 122. Thesignals between the antenna 254 and the transceiver 252 typically have ahigher power than the sensor output signals. Thus, positioning theantenna 254 within the connector 260 may have little impact to thetransmission performance. The configuration 600 may benefit intraluminaldevices with a limited space at the proximal end.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration 700 of thewireless intraluminal device 102, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. Similar to the configuration 500, the sensor assembly 116 ispositioned near the distal end of the flexible elongate member 158 andthe transceiver 252 is positioned within the flexible elongate member158. However, the transceiver 252 is positioned at a central portion 101of the flexible elongate member 158 instead of near the proximal end ofthe flexible elongate member 158. For example, the central portion 101may be at least 30 cm from both the proximal-most end and thedistal-most end of the intraluminal device 102. In some particularembodiments, the transceiver 252 may be positioned at a distance ofabout 25 cm to about 45 cm from the distal-most end of the intraluminaldevice 102. The antenna 254 is positioned at the same location (e.g., atthe proximal portion 106) as in the configuration 500 so that theantenna 254 may remain outside of a patient body when the intraluminaldevice 102 is in use. As shown, the antenna 254 is positioned adjacentand distal to the electrical interface 122 and coupled to the cable 117.The antenna 254 extends from the cable 117 and along an outer surface ofthe flexible elongate member 158. The interconnect (e.g., the cable 117)in the intraluminal device 102 between the sensor assembly 116 and thetransceiver 252 may contribute to signal degradation or signal loss.Thus, by positioning the transceiver 252 closer to the sensor assembly116, the weak sensor output signals of the sensor assembly 116 may betransferred over a shorter distance on the cable 117 to reach thetransceiver 252. Therefore, the configuration 700 may improvetransmission performance when compared to the configuration 500. Itshould be noted that the antenna 254 may be positioned within theconnector 260 as in the configuration 600, for example, when the spaceat the proximal end is limited, but the transmission performance may becompromised.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration 800 of thewireless intraluminal device 102, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. The configuration 800 is similar to the configuration 700,but the transceiver 252 is positioned at the distal portion 108 of theflexible elongate member 158 instead of at the central portion 101. Asshown, the transceiver 252 is positioned adjacent to the sensor assembly116. Thus, the distance between the sensor assembly 116 and thetransceiver 252 is further reduced from the configuration 700.Therefore, the configuration 800 may provide further performanceimprovement when compared to the configuration 700.

Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the apparatus, systems,and methods described above can be modified in various ways.Accordingly, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate thatthe embodiments encompassed by the present disclosure are not limited tothe particular exemplary embodiments described above. In that regard,although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a widerange of modification, change, and substitution is contemplated in theforegoing disclosure. It is understood that such variations may be madeto the foregoing without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the presentdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: an intravascularguidewire configured to be positioned within a blood vessel of apatient, wherein the intravascular guidewire comprises a proximalportion and a distal portion; an intravascular sensor positioned at thedistal portion and configured to obtain intravascular data; a cableextending within the intravascular guidewire and coupled to theintravascular sensor; a transceiver positioned within the intravascularguidewire and coupled to the cable such that the transceiver is incommunication with the intravascular sensor via the cable; an antennacoupled to the transceiver and configured to wirelessly transmit theintravascular data; and an electrical interface positioned at theproximal portion and configured to receive power for the intravascularsensor and the transceiver, wherein the transceiver and a portion of theantenna are longitudinally co-located along a length of theintravascular guidewire, and wherein the transceiver is disposed betweenthe intravascular sensor and the electrical interface.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the antenna extends toward the distal portion of theintravascular guidewire.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theantenna extends toward the proximal portion of the intravascularguidewire.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna is coiledaround a portion of the intravascular guidewire.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising: a connector configured to be coupled to anddetached from the proximal portion of the intravascular guidewire. 6.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is in communicationwith the intravascular sensor via the cable without crossing theelectrical interface.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theintravascular sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor or aflow sensor.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electricalinterface comprises: a first electrical contact positioned on an outersurface of the proximal portion; and a second electrical contactpositioned on the outer surface of the proximal portion.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8, further comprising a connector, wherein theproximal portion of the intravascular guidewire is configured to bereceived within the connector, wherein the connector comprises a powersource configured to be coupled to the first electrical contact and thesecond electrical contact of the electrical interface, and wherein thepower source is configured to provide the power for the intravascularsensor and the transceiver.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theelectrical interface comprises: a first electrical contact coupled to apositive terminal of a power source; and a second electrical contactcoupled to a negative terminal of the power source.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the transceiver is positioned within the proximalportion of the intravascular guidewire.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the antenna extends from the transceiver and along an outersurface of the proximal portion of the intravascular guidewire.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein the antenna extends along the outersurface of the proximal portion such that a portion of the antenna isexposed to an ambient environment.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the antenna extends from the transceiver and is spaced apartfrom an outer surface of the intravascular guidewire.
 15. The apparatusof claim 14, wherein the antenna comprises a coating such that theantenna is protected from an ambient environment.